Heathcote to Waterfall

Spanning between Heathcote and Waterfall Railway Stations, this walk experiences many of the different environments that Heathcote National Park has to offer. From ridge tops to creek walking, this is a great way to enjoy a day, with a perfect spot for a break at the Heathcote Campsite. If the water’s deep enough, also allow enough time to dip your toes in Heathcote Creek.

(0km) Heathcote Railway Station → End of Freeman Rd

1 km

17 mins

4m

-24m

Very easy

From the station, this walk follows the footpath towards the highway, passing the left side of the car park, until it reaches the highway, which it crosses at the traffic lights. The walk continues along Oliver Street for a while before coming to the intersection with Boundary Road. Here, this walk turns left, following the road for a short distance before taking the first right onto Freemans Road and continuing past the large scout camp, to the end of the road, where it comes to the intersection with the management trail at the corner of Bella Vista Street.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail, crossing under the high tension power lines and bending around to the right a short distance, before coming back around to the left and passing a management trail (which heads behind some houses). The walk continues down the hill, passing another trail on the left as the hill steepens and comes to an intersection with a rough bush track, opposite the power line tower at the bottom of the trail.Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track on the opposite side of the management trail to the power line tower. The walk passes a burnt-out car shell before turning down the long steep hill and winding down to the ‘T’ intersection with a wider track.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the track heading down along the side of the hill and through the thick bush. After a short while, the track comes to a large concrete pipeline, crossing it at the metal platform to the intersection with the management trail.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Mirang Pool’ arrow along the asphalt trail down the long hill. After a short while, the trail bends around to the left, turning back towards the pipeline, and continues downhill until it flattens out and crosses a bridge at the pipeline. From here, the walk continues along the management trail, following the pipeline (with Heathcote Creek down the hill on the right) for a while before coming to the signposted intersection with the Mirang Pool track.

Mirang Pool camping ground

This campsite is nestled in Heathcote National Park, with walk-in access from Heathcote Station. The campsite is near Mirang Pool on Heathcote Creek – there is a signpost at the top of the stairs, leading down to the pools from the management trail above. There are no facilities provided at the campsite, and you will need to carry in your own water and fuel stove.

(2.7km) Int. of Mirang and Mirang Pool Tracks → Battery Causeway

1.4 km

29 mins

59m

-56m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Lake Eckersley’ arrow along the management trail, keeping the pipe line to the left, as it heads through the bush. After a while, the trail does a large ‘S’ bend, crossing the pipeline twice as before passing through a gate and up to the intersection with the Mirang Road service trail.Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the asphalt management trail, keeping Heathcote Creek and the valley to the right as the trail rounds a bend and heads up run parallel with the pipeline as the trail becomes gravel. From here, the walk continues along the management trail, keeping the pipeline on the left for about 750m. The walk then crosses over the pipeline using a timber bridge and 160m further along the management trail the walk passes a picnic table and crosses Heathcote Creek at the concrete Battery Causeway. (Here you may notice the ‘Bullawarring Track – Waterfall 7km’ sign[1] up to your left).

(4.06km) Battery Causeway → Int of Bullawarring and Goanna Tracks

1.3 km

30 mins

100m

-49m

Hard track

Veer left: From the intersection (on the western side of the causeway), this walk follows the somewhat over grown ‘Waterfall 7km’ arrow[2] on the ‘Bullawarring Track’ signpost, along the narrow track that initially heads up the hill away from the creek then bends left, keeping the valley to your left. The walk then follows this narrow track south, keeping Heathcote Creek down the hill to your left, as the track climbs up the side of the hill to flatten out high above the creek. From here, the track continues along the side of the ridge, with occasional views of the creek in the valley to the left, as the walk winds through thick bushland until coming to the signposted intersection of the ‘Goanna Track'[ref img=114136.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Waterfall’ arrow on the Bullawarring Track signpost, winding along the bush track on the side of the hill for a long time, occasionally passing a rock platform with views of Heathcote Creek. The walk winds up and down a few steep rocky sections and crosses the dried-up creek in Python Gully. At this point, the track continues around the edge of the valley before descending quite steeply to Heathcote Creek, where it comes to the signposted intersection of the Mooray Track.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Waterfall’ arrow on the Bullawarring Track signpost, heading along the bush track which follows Heathcote Creek. The track winds through the bush with small ups and downs, until it comes back down to the side of the creek, crossing at the rocks.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Waterfall’ arrow on the ‘Mooray Track’ sign, heading down and across the creek at the rocks, following the painted track markers up the other side and along the bush track to a large open clearing. From here, the track follows the track marker though the clearing and along the bush track for a short while, coming to some large boulders. Here, the track turns right and then immediately left at the painted marker, climbing up onto the top of the rock platform. From the top of the platform, the walk follows the bush track, heading away from the creek for a short distance before turning left at the bush track and continuing to the Kingfisher Pool camping ground.

Kingfisher Pool camping ground

This campsite is located at a small clearing, just east of the junction of Heathcote and Kingfisher Creeks in Heathcote National Park. The campsite is above the creek on a flat clearing. The creek usually provides plenty of water (treat before use, and check with rangers before setting out) and an opportunity for a swim. At the campground, there is also a small pit toilet and picnic table. Open fires are not permitted, so bring your own fuel stove. Fees are payable in advance for the permit required to stay at this campsite.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the campsite, this walk heads away from the water for about 20m back to the main track, where this walk turns left to head east through the thick scrub for a while. There is an occasional view of the creek as the track heads along to a ‘Y’ intersection with another bush track that has been blocked off. Here, this walk turns left and continues along to the signposted intersection with a management trail.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads north, crossing the creek and heading along the service trail for a very short period, before coming to an intersection with a bush track going off to the right.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Bullawarring Track – Waterfall’ sign[3] south-east away from the power lines, following the narrow but clear track for several hundred metres (ignoring faint tracks to the left). The track then lends slightly to the left and heads up the hill to an intersection with a service trail.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow track and painted arrow[4] in the middle of the rock step, heading east up the rocky steps. The walk climbs up some rough rock steps with some carved foot-holes in the rock outcrop, to the top of some short cliffs. From here, the walk follows the rock platform at the top of the short cliffs, and the painted arrows, to the bush track which continues up the long rocky hill. The walk continues up a long set of wooden steps to the signposted intersection with a service trail.

(9.99km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail → End of Warabin Rd

90 m

2 mins

4m

0m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, heading up the gentle hill towards the houses for a short while before coming to the end of Warabin Street.

Maps for the Heathcote to Waterfall walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Cross sectional view of the Heathcote to Waterfall bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Heathcote to Waterfall

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

10.1 km

Time

5 hrs

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Short steep hills (3/6)

Quality of track

Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

Signs

Minimal directional signs (4/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

4.8km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 3.6km has short steep hills. The remaining (1.6km) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

3.9km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 3.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 1.3km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 1km follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

5km of this walk is clearly signposted and another 3.6km has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (1.3km) has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

Around 5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 4.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 10km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Heathcote to Waterfall walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-hnp-htw
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-hnp-htw
Forecast snapshot